Onion halving device



Dec. 4, 1951 R. M. MAGNUsoN ONIoN HALVING DEVICE 8 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 7, 1945 -Nimm Q Il Dec. 4, 1951 R. M. MAGNUsoN oNIoN HALVING DEVICE,

8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 7, 1945 INVENTOR. '90V M. Maan/05a Dec. 4, 1951 R. M. MAGNUSN 2,577,086

ONION HALVING DEVICE Filed April 7, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. Pos/ M, MHG/vasa/v.

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Dec. 4, 1951 R. M. MAGNusoN 2,577,085

oNIoN HALVING DEVICE Filed April 7, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 2, INVENTOR. 77 1)/ /Pov M. MfvsNvSo/v.

BY @7M Mr ab( Dec. 4, 195?! Filed April '7, 1945 R. M. MAGNUSON 2,577,086

oNIoN HALvING DEVICE:

8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR. oy M. /V/aG/vuso/v Wawy/M117 Dec. 4, 195i R. M. MAGNusoN 21,577,086

ONION HALVING DEVICE Filed April 7, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR.

Pay A7. MA? GAN/S ON Deb-'4, 1951` R. M. MAGNUsoN 2,577,085

ONION HALVING DEVICE Filed Apr'il 7, 1945 a sheets-sheet 7 INVENTOR. Pax M. Macaw/SON.

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Dec.` 4, 1951 R. M. MAGNUsoN I y2,577,086

ONION HALVING DEVICE Filed April 7, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 IN VEN TOR. Foy M. MAG/vuso/v W, my

Patented Dec. 4, i951 ONION HALVIN G DEVICE Roy M. Magnuson, Campbell, Calif., assgnor to Basic Vegetable Products Co., Vacaville, Calif.,

a copartnership Application April 7, 1945, Serial No. 587,124

(Cl. 14S- 73) Claims.

This invention relates specifically to an apparatus and method for handling and cutting onions, and has for one of its objects an improved method of slicing onions for dehydration or treatment of the slices and separation of the root and stem ends oi the onions.

Another object of the invention is apparatus for bisecting substantially at right angles to their respective root-stem axes for further treatment of the bisected onions, such as slicing thereof, and separation of various portions of the onions.

Another object of the invention is apparatus adapted to automatically slice onions and to automatically reject or discard the root-stem ends so the latter will not be mixed with the slices.

Other 'objects of the invention are improved means and an improved method for slicing o-nions.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of improved means for slicing onions and for uniformly distributing the slices on conveying means for dehydration of the slices.

Other objects and advantages willappear in the drawings and in the description.

In dehydrating onions they are iirst cut into slices. The root and stem ends, being undesira-ble in the finished product, are sorted out at some point in the handling.

Before the slicing operation it is desirable that the onions be graded or sorted for both size and shape, and the present invention provides for handling the onions automatically through the various steps commencing with the steps of sorting or grading them for size and shape, and ending with the steps of slicing the sorted onions and distributing the slices substantially uniformly on the trays that pass to the dehydrator, and which slicing step includes the step of automatically separating the root and stem ends of the onions from the slices.

Between the first and final steps above noted, the onions are handled automatically by apparatus hereinafter disclosed so as to insure fast and accurate slicing. In certain instances Where the onions may be eld sorted previously to being cut, that part of the present system that is adapted to automatically handle the sorted onions may be used without loss in efliciency in slicing the onions and in separating the root and stem ends.

Heretofore the handling and treating of onions for dehydration thereof has been a relatively slow, ineicient and costly procedure. Nor have the results been entirely satisfactory. The shape 2 of onions and variations in shape and size due to the different kinds of onions being handled, both as to species and locale have been contributing factors in the lack of a method and apparatus for such handling and treating of the onions.

With the present invention, the obstacles heretofore encountered have been overcome. lThe initial concept of a solution to the problems was in a method of handling the onions, taking into consideration the peculiarities of onions and the desired result. The apparatus for so handling the onions or for practicing the steps of the method followed the original concept.

It is to be understood that the drawings and description are illustrative of the preferred apparatus and method for accomplishing the desired results and are not to be considered restrictive of the invention. Also, while the description and claims specically refer to onions, this is not to be interpreted as necessarily restricting the invention to onions, inasmuch as there may be other vegetables and also fruit that could be handled by the apparatus in the same manner as onions.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is la diagrammatic plan view of a system embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3V is a diagrammatic view showing the onions at various positions and in various stages of processing in the path of travel from the feeding of unsized whole onions to the slicing and distributing of the onions on the drying trays, including the nal step of separating the stem and root ends from the sliced onions.

Fig.. 4 is a part-sectional, part-elevational view of the machine for automatically positioning and bisecting the onions.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of several of the onion positioning rollers of the machine of Fig. 4 with several onions positioned thereon.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the slicing knives or slicer mechanism that includes the transfer disks and conveyors associated therewith, but omitting the juice collectors for collecting and separating the juice resulting from slicing.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the slicer mechanism omitting the near conveyor and juice collectors, but showing the frame and /motors for the cutters and transfer disks.

Fig. 8a is a diagrammatic view showing the amc/,ose

angular path of travel of slices cut by the cutters of Fig. 8 and showing how they strike the trays and break up into separate rings.

Fig. 8b is a semi-diagrammatic view showing the onion juice separators or collectors in plan around the cutters.

Fig. 8c is a semi-diagrammatic elevational view of the cutter showing the juice collectors in section.

Fig. 8d is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of one of the juice collectors, the cutter being in elevation.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of one of the onion slicing knives, the central shaft being in section.

Fig. l is an enlarged sectional view taken along line IU-ID of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged plan view of one of the holders for onions during slicing of the latter.

Fig. l2 is an end view of the holder of Fig. 1l showing part of the slicing blade and showing the onion halves in position including a root or stem end ready for ejection.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the holder of Fig. 12 without the supports.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along line Ill- I4 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary elevational view of the device for sorting onions for shape.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a pair of the rollers of Fig. l5.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the feeder and Weight control devices.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary plan view of part of the device of Fig. 17.

Before describing the mechanisms of the system whereby the method of' handling the onions is accomplished, reference is made to Fig; 3 in which the steps of the process are shown independently of apparatus. At the left handv end of Fig. 3 is station A, at which station the onions are not graded for size or shape, but are ind-iscriminately mixed together. These onions are moved along a path of travel to station B at which point they are graded for size, the onions I of undesired size being ejected from said path of travel, while the onions 2 of the desired size being continued along said path of travel to station C where the misshapen onions 3 are ejectedr from said path. The onions 4 of desired shape are continued along the path of travel tov station D where they are aligned and evenly spaced apart in equally spaced rows, all while moving in one direction in said path toward the next station E. At station E the onions 4 are arranged with their root-stem axes parallel and at right angles to the path of travel of the onions. This axial arrangement of the onions occurs. without stopping them and without interrupting their spacing.y As soon as they have their root-.stem axes aligned as above described, the rows of coaxial onions are successively brought to station F where the onions in each such row are bisected transversely or at right angles to the root-stem axis of each onion, and the bisected halves 5 are then moved to station Gl where the halves 5 are arranged in a single layer instead ofV being piled up as thel would tend to do after being bisected FromVA station G bisected onions 5 move to station H where said bisected halves are arranged with their cut faces down and coplanar. Thus. the root and stem ends of the onion halves all face upwardly. From station H the halvesV 5 move to station J -and at stationv J they are sliced from their cut faces toward their root and stem ends until said ends are reached, and then said ends I5 are automatically ejected separately from the slices 1 and the slices 'l move in one direction as indi-4 cated by arrow 8 to a. dehydrator or for whatever' treatment is desired, while the ends 6 move along a different path 9 to any desired point for discard or for further treatment as may be desired.

While the entire system of handling as above described is desirable, the handling as it occurs from stations E to J is particularly desirable and important. At no time in the entire system should there be any intentional or material stoppage in the movement of the onions along the predetermined path they follow. There may be a momentary stoppage of some of the onions just before they are actually spaced at station D and before the halves are uniformly spread out or arranged w-ith their cut faces downwardly. Under normal conditions there is a constant movement of onions, halves or slices between stations A and J. At the feed end of stations D, G there is preferably a slight surplusage of onions and halves respectively when the normal run of onions is being handled inasmuch as there may be times when an abnormally large amount of undesir able onions may be rejected at stations B, C, and at such times this surplusage may be drawn upon at stations D, G, to insure a steady uniform weight of slices per minute at station J. Other means is provided to control the weight of onions that are moved to station J, as will later be explained more in detail.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, reading from left to right, apparatus is diagrammatically indicated for practicing the steps of the method above-described. The steps of the method as shown on Fig. 3 substantially correspond in position to the machine shown in Figs. l, 2 for accomplishing said steps.

The ungraded and misshaped onions are carried by a feed conveyor lo from a hopper for delivery onto a sizer I2. A motor I3 or any other desirable source of power may be connected with said conveyorfor actuating the same.

The sizer I2 may be driven by a motor I4 and said sizer preferably comprises parallel pairs of spaced rollers I5 that are driven in the same direction by said motor for moving onions deposited thereon in a direction away from the conveyor le. The spacing of said rollers is such that the onions of the desired size will pass between the same on to a device that may be termed reject rolls, while undersized onions may drop between pairs of said rollers I5 before reaching the reject rolls, and oversized onions may be carried beyond the reject rolls. The sizer disclosed in copending application of J. H. Hume for United States Letters Patent, Ser. No. 509,984, led November 12, 1943, and which application has become abandoned is preferably used.

rl"he reject rolls are indicated at I6, being arranged in pairs that maybe driven in the same direction by thev motor I4 that drives the sizing rollers I5. rIhese reject rolls are elongated and slightlyY inclined downwardly in a direction away from the sizer I2. An incline of about 8 relative to horizontal has been found to be satisfactory. With these rollers having a diameter of several inches and rotating at a speed of from about 250 to 300 R. P. M., the undesirable misshaped and double growth onions will be thrown off the rollers in the direction of arrows I'I (Fig. l) while the desirably shaped onions will continue to travel downwardly on thel rolls I6' for delivery onto the shuffle feed and weight control devices Y generally designated I8.

The shuffle feed devices I8 will each be more fully described later on, but it is sufficient to say that they function as a unit for spacing the onions delivered onto the same and for arranging said onions in several separate les or rows for intermittent movement longitudinally of the rows. Upon reaching the delivery ends of the devices 5, the onions in said rows are intermittently ejected into the troughs formed by the generally upwardly facing and adjacent convex sides of pairs of rollers of the onion positioning device generally indicated as 29.

A motor I9 (Fig. 2) may drive the feed devices I8 and a motor 2l may drive the onion positioning device and which motor as well as motor I9 are variable speed motors and electrically connected in a control box 22 in a conventional manner (not shown) for operating in a predetermined speed ratio, but which rates may be varied for obtaining the best results under all conditions.

The positioning device 20 virtually comprises an endless horizontally extending conveyor of rollers. Plain cylindrical rollers 23 alternate with annularly grooved rollers 24 (Fig. l). Motor 2| moves the rollers of the onion supporting upper run in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2). The timing between the feed devices I8 and the rollers of the positioner 20 is such that one onion is fed into the trough formed by each pair of rollers 23, 24 having the plain roller 23 as the leading roller of the pair. The feeding devices I8 correspond in number to the number of grooves 25 in rollers 24. The grooves are similarly positioned on rollers 24, hence provide parallel rows of spaced grooves extending longitudinally of the positioner and the feeding devices are generally aligned with said rows respectively.

As will later on be pointed out in considering the positioner I8, the rollers 23, 24 are rotated in the same direction, thereby causing rotation of the onions supported thereon at each groove 25 and this rotation of the onions causes them to rotate on their root-stem axes with the latter parallel with the axes of the rollers, all the while the onions are being carried bodily away from the feed devices I8 in a direction at right angles to their axes.

At the end of the positioner 20 that is opposite the feed devices I8, and over the said end of the positioner, is a row of cutters 26 that are connected by suitable means (later described in detail) for movement across the paths of the onions on the positioner for bisecting the onions at right angles to their axes.

The onions so bisected fall into another shuffle feed device 2'I that functions to spread the bisected onions out uniformly so as to feed them at a substantially uniform weight per minute onto the lower end of an upwardly inclined end portion 28 of an endless belt generally designated 29. The opposite end portion 30 of said belt 29 is substantially horizontal (Fig. 2)

The inclination of portion 28 of belt 30 is such that the onions positioned on said portion with their flat or cut faces downwardly against the same will be carried up the belt and along the portion 30, without interruption, but those thatr have their convex sides against the portion 29 will roll down the belt until they strike a properly positioned half and are inverted or until they are tumbled at the lower end of the belt to inverted position. The number of halves requiring inversion and the speed with which such inversion is accomplished is sufciently uniform dr-v ing a normal operation of the machine to main-j tain a substantially uniformweight per hour of halves on the horizontal portion 30 of belt 29.

The properly positioned onion halves on .the horizontal portion 30 are substantially uniformlyr distributed over such portion and these halves are carried to the slicer 3l where the halves are cut into slicesA commencing with their downwardly facing flat faces.

Preferably an upstanding partition 32 over portion 30 (Fig. 1) divides the layer of onions distributed on said portion and half of the onions on the portion 30 are shunted by a shunt wall 33 onto one end of an endless belt 34 while a shunt wall 35 shunts the other half onto one end of an endless belt 36.

A partition 3'I (Fig. 1) on belt 34 and a similar partition 38 on belt 36 divides the flow of onion halves on the belts 34, 36 for distribution of the halves to a plurality of holders 39 (in this instance four holders are provided) where the onions are sliced by rotary cutters 40. Shunt walls 4I, 42 over belt 34 direct the onions at opposite sides of partition 31 to two of said holders over intermediate transfer disks 43. Shunt Walls 44, over belt 36 respectively direct the onion halves at opposite sides of partition 38 to two of said holders 39 over intermediate transfer disks 46. Transfer disks 43, 46 accelerate the speed of onions thereon to nearly the speed of the cutters.

The onion slices are thrown from high speed cutters 40 onto trays 4l so as to strike the trays at an angle of substantially less than 90 thereby causing the rings in each slice to separate from each other (Fig. 8a). The said cutters are arranged so that the rings will be uniformly distributed on the trays. By separating the rings in the slices from each other the drying process" is greatly expedited and uniformity of drying is effected. A motor 50 (Fig. 2) connected with conveyor 48 drives the latter at the desired rate of speed for proper distribution. The cutters preferably have a peripheral speed of from about 2000 to. 7000 feet per minute.

The motor 59 is electrically connected by wires v5I with an electrical control system in a control box 52 and which system may include the wires 53 from motor 54 that operates the shuttle feed device 2'I.

The holders 39 in the cutting apparatus 3l are so arranged as to release the root and stem ends of the onion halves as soon as said ends are substantially all that remains of each half after the desired slices are dropped onto the trays. This structure will be explained in detail in the description of the cutting machine.

The root and stem ends released from the holders are ejected onto conveyor 55 which may be the lower runs of belts 34, 36 respectively or separate conveyors. Such ends may be discharged from said belts onto a single conveyorv 51 or into any suitable collecting chute or the like. Thus an automatic separation of the root and stem ends from the desirable slices is effected.

Inasmuch as it is highly desirable that the onion slices on the trays be evenly distributed so as to obtain the maximum efficiency of the system, such control may be accomplished in one of two ways or by both according to the conditions encountered. Such conditions may be more or less variable according to the uniformity or lack of uniformity of the onions at the feed hopper II where the initial feeding of onions to the sizery I2 occurs.

7 The motors I9, 2l are so connected in the electrical system so that they will speed up or slow down together in a direct ratio. These motors and motor I3 areV variable speed motors, such as conventional shunt motors in which the flux is varied by means of a rheostat in ther shunt eld circuit and which rheostat may be in control box Z2 and actuated by movement of the feed devices I8` about a. horizontal pivot 60 under the weight of onions delivered onto said devices. A balance spring 6I may support the receiving end of each of said feed devices so that a reduction in weight of onions on the receiving ends 0f said devices will permit their receiving ends to rise, while an increase in weight will cause a lowering of said ends. In this manner, it being known in advance the weight of slices per minute that must be deposited on trays 48, the speed of delivery of onions to the positioner 20 and the delivery of onion halves from the latter can be. controlled to insure the correct weight of onions on the trays. A large percentage of misshapen onions or onions of undesirable size being fed to the sizer and reject rolls would result in fewer onionsbeing delivered to the feed devices I8 than is desired, therefore the upward movement of they latter under the influence of spring would result in actuation of the rheostat in box 22` for increasing the speed of motor I3 to increase delivery of onions to the sizer and reject rolls so as to make up the deficiency.

Under certain. circumstances the speed of the tray conveyor 48 may be increased or decreased in response to weight variations in the onions delivered onto the feed device 21, the latter being pivoted at 62 for movement of the receiving end up and down on balance spring 63 as said variations occur. The arm 64 may move with 'said feed device and actuate a, rheostat in box 52. Of course motor 50 may bea, variable speed'v motor the. same as motor I3 and; its speed will vary directly as the weight on device 27 varies.. If the weight of onions passing over said. device, 21 is. below normal, the tray conveyor will. slow down and if it is above normal. the: reverse occurs. i

From the; foregoing description, it is seen that. the; method disclosed automatically spaces. the whole onions and positions themwith their root stem axes parallel while moving them in a: pre-l determined. path of travel at right anglesA to their axes. While so moving in said path they are bisected at right. angles to their axesand. the halvesr are then: similarly positioned with. their cut faces coplanar for slicing from said cut. faces toward their root and stem` ends. Thesaid` positioning of said halves'andsaid slicingisautomatically done as well as the conveying of the halves from the first positioner and halverto the.v slicing point. The furthe-r step of automatically separating the root and stem ends from the: slices. is; accomplished aty the slicing station..

There. are other steps in; the method such as.A

the sizing of the onions and the automatic re.- jection of misshapen or double growth` onions.. also the control of the weight ofr onions; being handled and the final distributiony of slices..

These steps are preferably included, particularly the latter one. Should-the onions. be field-graded or pre-graded before delivery for slicing, the firstY steps would not be repeated.

The reject rollsY 16.V

InFigs. 15, 16 apair of these rolls I6 are shown more in detail. There may be. any number of these pairs according to the capacity of the sizer I2 that feeds the sized onions onto the upper ends of said pairs.

Rolls I6 may have friction surfaces such as would be provided by relatively soft rubber or the like, or by a slight surface grain if harder material were used. They are elongated and inclined about 8 relative to horizontal and are connected as by a chain F5 for rotation in the same direction. Bearings 7E at the upper and lower ends of the rollers may support them for rotation and a drive chain 'II connected with a sprocket I8 on one of the roller shifts may constitute the driving means, said chain being connected. with a source of power (not shown).

The onions dropping between the sizing rollers I5 that arel above the upper ends of rolls IG are carried and directed to pairs of rolls I6 by chutes 19. In travelling down the rolls I6 the misshapen Vand double growth onions are bounced laterally from the rolls and will fall onto a conveyor chute 8U or the equivalent, while the onions of the. desired shape may either continue downe ward and over the lower ends of the rolls onto feedv devices I3, or a shunt board or plate 8l may deflect the onions from the rolls onto a delivery chute S2 that in turn feeds the onions to the feed devices I8.

As already mentioned, it has been found that the desired rate of speed of the. rolls I6, where they are several inches in diameter, is from about 250 to 390 R. P. M. Such rolls will handle onions. from about one to several inches in diameter.

Assuming the rolls are say about six feet in length, the misshapen and double growth onions will practically all be ejected therefrom within about thirty inches from the place they first engage the rolls. Thus there is ample length to feed a large quantity of onions to said rolls and to eject the undesirable ones therefrom.

Shuffle feed devices 18, 27

These will beV considered as being the same inasmuch as the elements and manner of operation are. the same, although there may be variations in. proportions or sizes of the feeding elements. Apart from the pivotal mounting of these devices on pivots 60, 52 respectively (Fig. 2) and the springs 6I, 63 and their connection with control boxes. 2'2, 12 for regulating mo-tor speeds, as already described, no claim is madeA to said devices in themselves apart from the combination.

As seen in Figs. 1'7, 18, said devices comprise a plurality of inclined, parallel plates 90 that are stationary relative to a supporting frame member 9| to which they may be secured. Between each adjacent pair' of said plates 9B is a plate 92 that. is recipro'cable in a plane parallel with the planes of the adjacent stationary plates 90.

Plates. B, S2 are so arranged that the upper ends of adjacent pairs thereof coact to dene troughs 94 (Fig. 17) when plates $2 are at the lower ends of their strokes, each trough beingr adapted to hold an onion or onion half therein. Upon upward movement of plates 92, the onions so supported will. be moved upwardly by said plates s2 and over the inclined upper sides 95 of plates Si] for falling into the adjacent trough that is at the side of each plate 90 toward which it inclines.

The plates 92 are connected with each other by meansy of barsf and pivots 9.1 whereby upas spacer.

ward movement of such bars will cause simultaneous upward movement of the plates 92. Upwardly extending links 98 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to bars 96 as at 99 (Fig. 17) and the upper ends of said links are respectively pivotally connected to one arm of rockers that are in turn pivotally secured to frame member IUI. The opposite arms |62 of the rockers are connected by a link |03 and one of said arms |02 is also connected by a link |04 with a crank |05. Crank |05 may be secured to a drive shaft |06 mounted on any suitable frame member |91 of said shule feed device and which shaft may be driven by motor I9 in the case of each shuiile feed device I8 or by a motor |08 in the case of feed device 21.

In operation, rotation of shaft |96 will result in reciprocation of the plates 92 simultaneously and the feeding of onions over the upper ends of plates 95 toward one end of each feed device will commence. The onions may be indiscriminately arranged as they are fed out the receiving yends of the feed devices that are respectively adjacent the reject rolls I6 and the positioning and bisecting device 20, but these onions quickly become spaced, one in each trough 94 in the case of feed devices I8, or one row in each such trough in the case of the feed device 21. This difference is due to the fact that plates 92 in feed device 21 may be quite wide as compared with those in the feed devices I8. Furthermore, feed device 21 functions more as a leveller or uniform distributor than as a precise positioner as well The feed device I8 must feed one onion at a time to` exact positions on the positioner which is not the case with the device 21.

The onion positioner and halter 20 As has already been generally stated, this positioner 20 virtually comprises an endless horizontally extending conveyor made up of rollers 23, 24 (Figs. 4 to 6), the rollers 23 alternating with rollers 24 and being plain, while rollers 24 are formed with grooves 25. l

The rollers 23, 24 are respectively secured on shafts |01, |08 and bearings |99 at opposite ends of said shafts are carried on endless chains H0.

A pair of sprockets (only one shown) at the feed end of the positioner (Fig. 4) are secured on a shaft l2 and support one cf the ends of chains H0, while a second pair sprockets ||3 at the discharge end of the positioner secured on shaft H4, support the opposite ends of said chains (Figs. 4, 6).

A sprocket ||5 is secured on one end of each shaft |01 at-one side of the positioner outwardly of the chain H9 adjacent thereto, while a corresponding sprocket ||6 is secured on oneend of each shaft 08 at the opposite side of the positioner, also outwardly of Ichain H6 with respect to the main body of the machine that is between `the chains.

An endless drive -chain ||1 extends over sprockets ||5 and an endless chain H9 extends over sprockets H6. The upper and lower hori- -zontally extending runs of these chains that are rollers, extend over a sprocket |29 on a shaft |2l, while the chain ||8 extends over a sprocket |22 on said shaft 2| that is larger in diameter than the sprocket |20 (Fig. 4). The shaft |2| may be rotatably supported in any suitable bearings (Fig. 6) carried by a housing or frame |23 (Fig. 4) that also supports shafts H2, ||4 and other shafts hereinafter mentioned, as will later appear.

After passing over sprockets |20, |22 (Fig. 4) the chains l1, I8 may pass over tighteners generally designated |24, idlers |25 and then back to channels H9.

Shaft |2| that carries sprockets |29, |22 also carries a sprocket |26 that is driven by a chain |21. Chain |21 extends over a sprocket |28 on shaft |29, said shaft |29 being driven by motor 2| through chain |30 that connects the said motor with a sprocket |3| (Fig. 6) on said shaft |29. The direction of rotation of sprockets |20, |2| is such that the upper halves of the rollers 23, 24 in the upper run of the positioner move in the same general direction as said rollers are moved by chain |||J.

Shaft 4 that carries sprockets I3 over which chains I9 extend also carries a sprocket 32 that is connected by chain |33 with sprocket |34 von shaft |29, whereby motor 2| will drive chains |,|0 that carry rollers 23, 24.

Upon actuation of motor 2 it is seen that the onions 4 deposited on the left-hand end of the positioner as seen in Fig. 4, will be carried from said receiving end to the right toward the discharge end that is adjacent sprockets |3. At the same time the onions 4 which are supported at two points on the sides of the grooves 25 and at substantially one point on the leading plain roller 23 of each supporting pair of rollers will be rotated in a direction reverse to that of the rollers. This rotation and difference in peripheral speed of rollers 23, 24 causes the onions to have their root-stem axes parallel and at right angles to their bodily travel as seen in Fig. 5. The three point support for the onions is important as is the difference in peripheral speed of the rollers.

While the onions are moving as above described with their axes paralle1 to the axes of rollers 23', 24, they are in a position to be bi- Isected. The three point support for each of the vonions very accurately aligns them for cutting.

The bisecting of the onions occurs over the sprockets ||3 adjacent the discharge end of the positioner by means of rotary knives 20. There is one knife for each of the grooves 25 (Figs. 4, 6) and these knives are coaxial and spaced on a supporting shaft |36 that is above the positioner rollers.

Shaft |36 is rotatable in bearings journalled in the corresponding ends cfa pair of arms |31. The opposite ends of said arms |31 are pivotally supported on a rotary shaft |38 that is carried. by the frame |23 of the positioner. Thus the arms may oscillate on shaft |38 for simultaneous swinging of the knives 26 downwardly and upwardly into and out of the paths of onions 4. as the latter are carried on rollers 23, 24.

Intermediate their ends the arms |31 are suspended from eccentric straps |39 by pivots |49 on said arms in pivoted engagement with downward projections |4| of said straps.

The eccentric straps |39 enclose eccentrics |42 secured on shaft |43. Thus upon rotating shaft |43 the arms |31 carrying knives 26 will be oscillated generally vertically within the limits ofthe eccentrics.

The shaft |43 has a sprocket |44 secured theref- 4ars'mosc on and which sprocket is connected by a chain with a Vsprocket |46 secured on shaft H4. Thus, upon driving shaft H4 by motor 2|, the eccentric |42 will be rotated and the driving connection between said shaft ||4 and the eccentric is so arranged that the knives 26 will be swung downwardly, as each row of axially aligned onions reach a position in which such downward movement will bisect the onions as the latter continue past the knives. As soon as the onions are bisected the eccentrics |42 will lift the knives 26 for the next row of axially aligned onions on the positioner.

During oscillation of the knives 26, they are also rotated. This rotation is effected through sprockets |41, |48 that are respectively secured on shafts |36, |38 and that are connected by chain |49.

Shaft |38 also carries a sprocket |50 that is connected by a chain |5| with a sprocket |52 on shaft H4. The relative sizes of sprockets |41, |48, and 52 are such that the circular knives 26 are rotated at a relatively high speed.

The movement of the knives 25 bodily across the paths of the onions and their high rotating speed results in their bisecting the onions cleanly and without dislodging or upsetting the positions Yof the onions during the bisecting operation.

One each end of shaft H4 is a circular synchronized disk having a chain |56 extending therearound and over an idler |51 (Fig. 4), the hub of each disk being free on shaft ||4 to permit rotation independent of the shaft H4. The

chains |56 of these disks are respectively in mesh .L

top and bottom with at least one each of sprockets 1'5 and H6 that are being power-driven through chains H1, H8. Thus the disks themselves are power-driven and the sprockets H5,

H6 that are not connected with chains H1, H8 a will be driven at the same speed as those that are. Thus when the rollers 23, 24 are carried around sprockets I I 3 from the upper to the lower run of the positioner they will not stop and their drive by the lower runs of chains H1, H8 will be re-established without imposing any objectionable strain on the chains. This is important.

Slicer 31 Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive show the slicing machine or apparatus more in detail, and Figs. 1l to 14 inclusive show the holdersfor the onions during their slicing, and Fig. l2 illustrates most clearly the manner in `which the root and stemends are ejected.

The shunting of the onion halves from belts 34, 36 to rotary cutters 40 by way of transfer disks 43, 46 has been generally explained.

The transfer disks 43, 46 are identical with each other in structure, each being preferably driven from above by its own motor (Fig. 8) in the direction of the arrow indicated on each disk in Fig. '7. One marginal portion |6| of each transfer disk 43 extends just below belt 34 adiacent the shunt walls 4|, 42 respectively. The

12 disks 46 that are adjacent belt 36 likewise have a marginal portion |62 extending under said belt.

The rotary circular cutters 40 are each between one of the transfer disks 43 and one of the disks 46. In other words, one set of transfer disks comprising one disk 43 and one disk 46 is provided for each rotary cutter 40 at opposite sides of each cutter. Onion halves (face down) are fed onto one set of transfer disks by shunt walls 4|, 44, while onion halves are fed onto the other set of transfer disks by shunt walls 42, 45.

A marginal portion |63 of each of the transfer disks 43 extends over a marginal portion of each rotary cutter 40 at one side of the central axis of the latter and a marginal portion |64 of each of the transfer disks 46 extends over a marginal portion of each cutter at the opposite side of said central axis. (Fig. 7.)

The direction of movement of the transfer disks is such that onion halves carried thereon from belts 34, 36 to cutters 40 will be moving in the, same general direction as the cutters 46 at marginal portions |63, |64 on the disks. Spaced guide strips |65, |66 over disks 43 guide the onions onto the rotary cutters, while spaced guide strips |61, |68 over disks 46 perform a similar function.

The rotary cutters 40 are identical. Each comprises a cir'cular disk |10 centrally secured on the lower end of a drive shaft |1| that extends downwardly from a motor |12. Motors |12 are secured to a frame |13 that carries the same and the cutters and supports the upper sides of said disks |10 in proper relation to disks 43, 46 that are also carried on said frame.V The legs |14 of said frame may support the transfer disks in proper relation to belts 34, 36 (Fig. 8).

Each disk |10 is formed with a plurality of slits or slots |15 extending arcuately inwardly from the edge of the disk and generally about equally spaced similar axes equally spaced from each other and from the central axis of each disk |10, (Fig. 9). f

Along the convexly curved edge of each slot and dening said edge is a removable cutting blade |16 having a convexly curved cutting edge |18 spaced above the main plane of the disk |10. Thus upon rotation of the disk |10 with the convex edges |18 leading, any onions on said disk and in the paths of said edges |10 will be sliced by each of said blades |16 (Figs. 9, 10).

In the drawings, each rotary cutter has four equally spaced cutting blades and the cutting edges of these are so arranged that onions being cut tend to be forced radially outwardly of the central axis of the disk.

The holders for onions, generally indicated at 39 in Figs. '1, 8, are shown in detail in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive.

Holders 39 are suspended over the marginal portions of the circular cutters 40 from a pair of supporting members that are in turn secured to tubular housings |8|. These housings are secured to the motors |12 or to frame |13 as may be desired. The members |80 of said pair may respectively be formed with several horizontal pieces |82, |83. Said pieces are in pairs opposed to each other at opposite sides of each of the housings |8|, there being one pair of pieces |62, |83 to each of the holders 30. The members |80 and pieces |62, |83 thereon are parallel and each pair of pieces |82, |83 is arranged over opposite marginal portions of each cutter 40 about midway between the belts 34, 36.

A slot |34 is formed in each piece |82 extendfing longitudinally thereof anda similar slot |85 is formed on each piece |83 (Fig. 1l). The upper end of a vertical bolt |86 extends through each slot |84 and the upper end of a vertical bolt |81 extends through each slot |85. A nut |88 in on each bolt |86, |81 above pieces |82, |83 and a spacer |89 is below each such piece (Fig. 12).

A horizontal elongated plate |90 is secured intermediate its ends on the lower end of each bolt |86 between the head 19| of the bolt and the spacer |89, while a horizontal elongated plate |92 is secured intermediate its ends on the lower 4end of each bolt |81 between the head of said bolt and the spacer thereon.

Depending from the ends of each plate |90 are a pair of vertical bolts |99, |95 and a similar pair of vertical bolts |96, |91 depend from the ends of plate |92. The bolts |94, |95 extend through slots |98 in `plate |99 and bolts |96, |91 extend through slots |99 in plate |92. The slots in each plate extend longitudinally thereof and nuts 200 on the bolts |94 to |91 inclusive above and below Aplates |90, |92 releasably secure the bolts to said plates for adjustment of the bolts longitudinally of the slots as well as axially of the bolts.

The lower ends of bolts |94 to |91 inclusive are formed with horizontally directed eyes 20| (Fig. 12) for bolting said lower ends to the holders 39. Thus the bolts |86, |94, |95, |96, |91 form hangers for each holder. The bolts |94, |96 are spaced from similar sides of bolts |86, |81, while `bolts |95, |91 are spaced from the opposite similar sides of said bolts |86, |81. The holders 39 are in two halves, one of which halves is carried by bolts |94, |96, while the other half is carried by bolts |95, |91. Thus, by adjusting bolts |95, |91 toward or away from bolts |94, |96, the halves may be moved closer together or farther apart and by adjusting the nuts 200 axially on bolts |94 to |91 the halves may be moved toward or away from the rotary cutter therebelow. The bolts |86 provide for bodily adjustment ofthe holders toward or away from the central axis of the rotary cutters. It is thus seen that the holders and the halves thereof are capable of being adjusted to meet every condition.

y The halves of holders 39 are complementary to each other and each half comprises a specially formed plate having what may be called a toe portion 205 and a heel portion 206 an intermediate body portion 201 (Figs. 11, 13). Between the toe portion and body portion of each half is an ear 298 that is apertured for bolting to the `eye at the lower end of one of bolts |94, |95 as the case may be, while an ear 209 is between the heel and body portion of each half is apertured for bolting to the eye at the lower end of one of the bolts |96, |91. l

The heel portions 205 of the halves of each holder connects with'the guides |65, |66 (Figi. 7) or with guides |91, |88 according to the'positions of the holders, inasmuch as the onions enter the holders between said heel portions. Said heel portions in each holder may be horizontally elonf gated flat plates that are preferably inclined between 60" and 70 relative to horizontal (Fig. 14) with their opposed surfaces facing generally downwardly. The lower edges of the heel portions of each plate are slightly higher than the lower edges ofthe body and toe portions so as to clear the transfer disks 43 over which said heel portions extend.

The'booly portions v291 of each holder are at plates integral with the respective heel portions and are in continuation thereof, but they are preferably inclined relative to horizontal no more than 60 (Fig. 12). The vertical width of the plate forming the body portion of each half is progressively less in direction toward the toe portion. The upper edge of the body portion of each half is inclined to provide for thus decreasing width while the lower edge is horizontal and substantially parallel with the cutter therebelow, it being understood that the body and toe portions of the holders are directly over the marginal portions of the circular cutters.

The toe portion 285 of each half is merely a continuation of the body portion, and the upper and lower edges of each toe portion also continues in alignment with the upper and lower edges of the body portion. The plates comprising the body and toe portion of each half of leach holder come to a substantial point at the outer end of the toe portion, and the lower mar'- ginal portions of the opposed body and toe portions of each holder are turned oppositely outwardly so as to form rounded lower edges on said holder.

The onion halves upon being directed between the heel portions of each holder are moving at substantially the same speed as the speed of the cutters, therefore upon said onion halves passing onto the cutters from said transfer disks, the said halves will not be upset by contact with the cutter blades before the same are held against the downwardly inclined sides of the body portions of the holders during actual slicmg.

In Fig. 12 an onion half 5 is shown at the be'- ginning of the slicing operation. As the holders 39 are quite close to the outer edges of the circular cutters 40 the onion halves are positioned where the speed of travel of the cutting blades is fastest and the arcuate linear contour of the cutting edges is such that the slicing is accomplished progressively across the body of each onion half in direction generally radially relative to the axis of each cutter.

As the slicing of each half continues from the cut face toward the root or stem end, the halves continue to move in the holders toward the toe of each until the root or stem end 6 (Fig. 12) is all that is lefty and at this point said root or stem end is at a level where it is released from engagement with the holder for ejection from the cutter by centrifugal force. The fact that the holder is in halves that are spaced apart provides an opening between the apices of the toe portion for permitting the upstanding or projecting tuft from the root or stem ends to pass through said opening.

The force with which the root and stem ends are ejected from the cutters is sufficient to throw said ends onto conveyors belt 55 (Fig. 2) which may be the lower runs of conveyors 94, 36, or they may be separate conveyors should there be any objection to depositing the said ends on the inner sides of said belts 34, 96. In any event, the root and stem ends are automatically separated from the onion slices. The latter, as they fall from the cutters, will be deposited on the trays moving therebelow and the distribution. of the holders and cutters is such as to insure a substantially uniform distribution of the slices on the trays.

In Fig. 8a one of the cutters 40 is indicated with an onion half 5 thereon The slices 1 are seen to`follow the downward path 2|0 that is at less than a right angle with respect to tray l1 and the plane in which the slices 1 are disposed while in saidpath is such that the edge of each slice strikes 15 the tray instead of the slices dropping in horizontal planes. The peripheral speed of the cutters at the point where the slices are cut is from about 2000 to about 7000 feet per second and this has a ygreat deal to do with the path taken by the slices.

The angle at which the slices strike tray il and their velocity results in each slice separating into its rings 2li, thus producing a layer of separate onion rings on the tray through which the drying air can readily circulate. Drying is uniform as a result and one of the heretofore baffling problems .issolved The importance of this uniform drying is readily apparent when it is considered that the onion slices are eventually dried to the point where they contain less than 5% moisture by weight. In the conventional methods heretofore used some slices might break up into separate rings on the trays, while others remained whole, and still others were in stacks or at least in pairs fiat together thus making it almost impossible to effectively dry them. By the time the slices that were separated into rings had dried to the desired degree, those slices that were whole and in stacks or pairs might contain from 6 to 10% moisture by weight and even more. Thus, to make the average moisture content 5% or less would result in some of the onions being practically charred while othels were still relatively moist.

By the present invention as above described, the thickness of the layer of onions on the tray may be increased over previous methods and uniform drying will still be accomplished. It might be added that the breaking of the onion slices into rings also produces a greater uniformity in the layers, whereas heretofore the layers were somewhat spotty inasmuch as the onion slices tended to stay on the tray in les directly below the cutters.

In the cutting of onions it has heretofore been the practice to permit the water or juice to mix with the slices. In fact, it has been unavoidable in most instances. Where the cutters have a relatively high peripheral speed, as in the present instance, this moisture is thrown 01T by centrifugal force and is collected in the annular trough 215 (Fig. 8b) that surrounds each of the circular cutters. The trough is disposed outwardly of the periphery of each cutter (Fig. 8d) a sufficient distance so as not to interfere with the falling slices 'I (Fig. 8c) that are cut close to the periphery of each cutter. At those points around each cutter where the root and stem ends 6 are thrown off (Fig. 8b) the upper outer edge of the outer side of each trough is cut away as at 2m (Fig. 8d.) so as not to interfere with the discharge of the said root and stem ends.

From the foregoing description it is seen that a triple action automatically occurs in the slicing step, namely (1) the free moisture resulting from the slicing step is separated from the cut slices, being carried off by any suitable conduit 2H leading from the lov/er portion of each trough or collector 2|5; (2) the root and stem ends are automatically separated from the slices and (3) the slices are broken up into their separate rings.

The ultimate end accomplished by these triple steps is a fast and uniformly dried quantity of sliced onions, inasmuch as the Slow drying and undesirable stem and root ends are eliminated, and the water or free moisture due to cutting is taken away, and the slices are separated into separate rings. By referring to the stem and root ends as being undesirable, I mean that their mix- 16 ture with the slices is undesirable, both from the standpoint of the finished product and from the standpoint of drying.

I claim:

w l. An onion halver comprising an endless horizontally extending conveyor having horizontally disposed parallel 'rollers in side by side relationship forming the runs thereof, means for actuating said vconveyor for movement of the upper run thereof in one direction longitudinally thereof, means for feeding a row of onions into alternate of the troughs formed by the adjacent upper sides of adjacent pairs of said rollers and in similar spaced relationship in said troughs, means providing outwardly opening annular recesses in alignment with the runs of said conveyor found 'in alternate rollers for positioning onions on said rollers in rows extending longitudinally of said runs with their root-stem axes parallel with the axes of said rollers and cutting means aligned with each of said rows for bisecting the onions at substantially right angles to their root-stem axes, said cutting means comprising a row of spaced cutting blades positioned at the forward end of said upper run relative to said direction of movement, means for positioning said blades in the path of movement of the onions in said troughs and a kerf in the outer sides of said rollers for receiving said blades during bisecting of the onions by said blades.

2. An onion halver comprising an endless horizontally extending conveyor having horizontally disposed parallel rollers .in side by side relationship forming the runs thereof, means for actuating said conveyor for movement of the upper run thereof in one direction longitudinally thereof, means for feeding a row of onions into alternate of the troughs formed by the adjacent upper sides of adjacent pairs of said rollers and in similar spaced relationship in said troughs, means providing outwardly opening annular recesses in alignment with the runs of said conveyor found in alternate rollers for positioning onions on said rollers in rows extending longitudinally of said runs with their root-stem axes parallel with the axes of said rollers and cutting means aligned with each of said rows for bisecting the onions at substantially right angles to their root-stem axes,

said cutting means comprising a row of spaced coaxial circular cutting blades positioned at the forward end of said upper run relative to said direction of movement and over said run, means for rotating said knives, means for intermittent- 1y moving said blades downwardly in paths of travel transversely of the paths of onions in said troughs during said movement of said upper run upon onions in said alternate troughs being carried below said blades.

3. In a positioner of the character described that includes an endless roller conveyer in which the rollers are adapted to support products thereon for rotation during movement of the conveyer, rotary supports at the ends of said conveyer for supporting the latter for movement about the axes of said supports, and means for rotating certain of said rollers at a uniform rate of speed during actuation of said conveyer, and means for rotating other of said rollers at a uniform rate of speed that is different from the rate of speed of said first mentioned rollers and at all times during said actuation of said conveyer.

4. In a positioner of the character described that includes an endless roller conveyer in which l the rollers are adapted to support products thereon for rotation during movement of the conveyer, rotary supports at the ends of said conveyer for supporting the latter for movement about the axes of said supports, means for rotating certain of said rollers at a uniform rate of speed during actuation of said conveyer, said supports being horizontally spaced apart a substantial distance to provide said conveyer with horizontally extending upper and lower runs, said means for rotating` said rollers including rotary members coaxial with each of said rollers and secured thereto for rotation and a pair of separate endless drivers respectively engageable with said members when the rollers are moving in said upper and lower runs and when said rollers are moving around said rotary supports at one of the ends of said runs.

5. In a positioner of the character described that includes an endless roller conveyer in which the rollers are adapted to support products thereon for rotation during movement of the conveyer, rotary supports at the ends of said conveyer for supporting the latter for movement about the axes of said supports, means for rotating certain of said rollers at a uniform rate of speed during actuation of said conveyer, said supports being horizontally spaced apart a substantial distance to provide said conveyer with horizontally extending upper and lower runs, said means for rotating said rollers including rotary members coaxial with each of said rollers and secured thereto for rotation and a pair of separate endless drivers respectively engageable with said members when the rollers are moving in said upper and lower runs and when said rollers are moving around said rotary supports at one of the ends of said runs, at least one of said members being in engagement with each of said drivers at all times at said one of the ends of said runs, power means for driving one of said drivers.

ROY M. MAGNUSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

